Fish Swimming Irratic

[Freshwater Tim]

OK so I have been reading like crazy....past cpl days...about Ich, symptoms and cures. My tank has Ich. Temp is at 86 degrees and has been appropriately dosed with aquarium salt. I think I am doing everything right!! Funny thing is...all the years I kept Africans I never ran into this problem.

So I know I have to be patient...but watching my tank is STRESSING me out. The fish are all going up and down the glass incessantly. Is this a normal symptom of Ich? Water paramaters seem OK...This is day 2 of the heat/salt treatment.

They just keep going up and down...not really touching the glass....do I just simmer down and be patient??

Your thoughts

1-7" Silver Aro
2-6" Bala Sharks
2-3" Silver Dollars
1-7" Geo Altifrons
2-2.5" Clown loaches
2 small common Plecs

2 Filstar XP3 Canisters
1 Koralia 4

Decrease feeding to 1x a day
Hakari food sticks for the balas and Aro
Sinking New life Spectrum Med Fish Formula
Vegi Flake

Tank has been set up for 5 years in this location but restocked about 1.5 months ago. I have no question that it is Ich by everything I have read, (white spots, flashing, head jerking), and I feel confident that the heat/salt treatment will work. But this crazy swimming.....is this all part of it. Everyone is still eating and acting normal (for short periods of time), then it is like they just go off on a tangent.....going up and down...up and down
Even My Aro is doing it which is REALLY stressing me out!

Your thoughts?

Thanks Tim

 

[Freshwater Tim]

Anyone??

 

[ProblEmZ]

Need more information. Tank size? Maintenance schedule? Parameters, not just they look good? Water change schedule? How long have you noticed ich? How long have you been treating?

Did you add anything new to the tank recently?

 

[Lupin]

I am confused by your post. Did you actually see white spots scattering around your fish? If not, then you have no accurate way of telling it is ich. Listlessness and frequent scratching can be associated with flukes, external parasites, silt particles floating, etc.

When did you buy your most recent new fish? Please include answers to Problemz's queries as well.

 

[Freshwater Tim]

The tank size is 125
Ammonia - 0
Nitrrite - 0
Nitrate - 5
Ph 7.2
GH - soft
KH - <20 mg/L

The last two fish I added are the silver dollars 2.5 weeks ago.

I do a 25% water change 2x a week and clean the mechanical filter 1x a month and the biological, I just rinse the bottom sponges and take the large debris out.

This is day 4 and I did notice spots on the Balas and a few on the Geo's fins. Loaches were flashing last night but other than that everyone seems to be fine. No noticable spots any of the fish any more.

I think I might have sent my tank into a "mini cycle'. I changed the decor by taking out the slate that I had had in there for years, did a water change,Sucked up the bottom, and cleaned out the mechanical filter. I then put the rocks that I used to have in the tank years ago, back in the tank. They were rinsed before going in the tank and were stored in a rubbermaid tub when not in use.
I think I might have removed too much of the good bacteria when I did all this. It all seems to be settling down now. Spots are gone...behavior is more normal.
I will continue the heat/salt regime for a cpl weeks